Elder Fraud in Hawaii

The Legal Aid Society of Hawai'i is hosting a free Kaua'i Elder Law Fair on September 4, 2026, to provide seniors and their families with information on elder abuse, financial scams, and estate planning. The event will feature presentations from AARP elder fraud expert Paul Greenwood, an estate planning attorney, and local social service agencies offering resources and guidance to help kupuna protect themselves from exploitation.

Hawaii's Department of the Attorney General is warning the public about a scam in which criminals impersonate Attorney General Anne Lopez via text messages, instructing victims to purchase gift cards and send photographs of the cards and redemption codes. One victim received such messages but was able to recover funds through their financial institution. The department emphasizes that no state official will request gift cards, gift card numbers, or money through unofficial communications, and urges anyone targeted to contact local police or the Attorney General's office.

Hawaii's new law banning cryptocurrency kiosks that accept cash takes effect October 1, 2026, in response to a dramatic surge in crypto ATM fraud affecting state consumers. Hawaii residents lost $3.85 million through crypto ATM scams in 2025—nearly four times the $1 million lost in 2024—with fraudsters using the kiosks to launder money obtained through romance scams, impersonation of government officials, and tech support schemes. The law prohibits operators from owning or managing kiosks that accept U.S. currency or cash equivalents in exchange for cryptocurrency, with violators facing significant civil penalties.

An Indian national was arrested in Hawaii for allegedly serving as a courier in a sophisticated "gold bar" scam targeting elderly victims, where criminals impersonated U.S. Marshals to pressure a woman into liquidating over $137,000 in savings to buy gold bars as "protection" for her identity-compromised account. The suspect admitted to conducting approximately 10 similar fraudulent pickups from older adults over several months, highlighting a growing national trend of organized criminal networks exploiting seniors through impersonation and high-pressure tactics. Elderly people should be cautious of unsolicited calls claiming their identity is compromised or their money is at risk, verify caller identity through official channels, and never liquidate assets based on urgent demands from people they cannot independently verify.

An Indian national named Harsh Fojalal Shah was arrested in Hawaii for his role in a "gold bar purchase" fraud scheme targeting elderly victims, where scammers impersonated U.S. Marshals to convince seniors their identities had been compromised and pressure them to liquidate assets and buy gold. One victim lost over $137,000 in life savings and retirement funds before law enforcement intervened, and Shah admitted to conducting similar scams with at least ten other elderly victims. To protect yourself: be skeptical of unsolicited calls claiming to be from government agencies, never liquidate assets based on phone pressure, and verify any urgent claims by calling official agencies directly using numbers from their official websites.

Romance scammers operate sophisticated schemes using deepfake videos, scripts, and pressure tactics to pose as romantic partners, targeting vulnerable people who often continue sending money even after suspecting fraud—sometimes for the emotional connection alone. Author Amanda Eyre Ward explores this dark underworld in her new novel "Arrivals and Departures," drawing on two years of research including interviews with fraud examiners in Austin who work to dismantle these scams. If you're being pursued by someone online asking for money or personal information, be cautious—legitimate romantic partners won't pressure you for funds or use overly polished messaging, and it's worth reporting suspicious activity to fraud examiners and law enforcement rather than continuing engagement.

This news update covers several Florida state issues including a Supreme Court ruling on temporary protected status for Haitian immigrants (prompting local pastors to urge political leaders to support protective legislation), details about Florida's back-to-school sales tax holiday running from July 20 through August 20 with tax breaks on computers, school supplies, and clothing, and federal approval of a pilot aquaculture project to raise red drum fish off the coast of Sarasota County. The article does not contain information about fraud or scams.

Scammers in Hawaii are sending threatening text messages claiming drivers owe unpaid traffic tickets and pressuring them to pay immediately or face arrest, license suspension, or wage garnishment—using fake Hawaiian-sounding names and official-sounding case numbers to appear legitimate. If you receive such a text, do not respond, click links, or send money; instead, verify any traffic citations directly through the Hawaii State Judiciary at 808-539-4909 or the eCourt Kokua website. State officials warn that the urgency and threats are red flags, and victims should report payments to law enforcement immediately, though recovery is unlikely.

Honolulu's Department of Planning and Permitting and Hawaii State Judiciary are warning residents about sophisticated scams involving fake inspection notices, permits, and communications that impersonate government officials. Scammers have sent fraudulent violation notices to evict tenants and fake permit emails requesting wire transfer payments for fake "approval fees"—tactics the real DPP never uses. Residents should verify any government communications directly with the agency by phone or in person, avoid wire transfers for government fees, and never respond to suspicious emails or calls claiming to be from city officials.

Americans lost nearly $16 billion to fraud in 2025, with investment scams skyrocketing 36% to become the costliest category at $6.4 billion, followed by romance scams at $1.3 billion, according to FTC data. States like Arizona, Nevada, and Hawaii experienced the highest per capita losses, while Washington D.C. had the most fraud reports relative to its population. To protect yourself, be especially cautious of unsolicited investment opportunities and romantic advances from online contacts, verify the legitimacy of investment firms through official regulatory databases, and never send money to unknown parties regardless of the promised returns.

Americans lost nearly $16 billion to fraud in 2025, with investment scams surging 36% to become the costliest scheme type at $6.4 billion, followed by romance scams at $1.3 billion. States like Arizona, Nevada, and Hawaii experienced the highest per capita losses, while Washington D.C. had the highest fraud reporting rate overall. To protect yourself, be cautious of unsolicited investment opportunities and romantic advances from online contacts, verify the legitimacy of financial advisors through official channels, and report suspected scams to the FTC immediately.

Democratic state attorneys general declined to attend a White House roundtable discussion on welfare fraud, citing that they received the invitation only late Friday for a Tuesday event—what California's Attorney General Rob Bonta called a "disingenuous last-minute invitation" that signaled they were either an afterthought or unwelcome. The Democratic AGs, representing states like California, New York, and New Jersey, argued that fraud is a bipartisan issue affecting all states, and they emphasized their own track record of recovering billions in taxpayer dollars rather than participating in what they characterized as politically motivated "staged stunts." The disagreement reflects broader partisan tensions over how to address fraud, with Democrats calling for genuine collaboration while questioning the administration's focus on blue states specifically.

A retired local news anchor in Hawaii lost nearly $70,000 of her retirement savings to a Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes scam, where she was tricked into paying taxes and fees for a fake $5.5 million prize. The scam, which the FBI reports cost Americans close to $200 million last year, uses convincing fake documents and kind-sounding scammers to prey on victims of all ages, though older adults tend to lose larger amounts. Experts advise being skeptical of unsolicited prize notifications and remembering that legitimate lotteries never ask winners to pay upfront fees or taxes before claiming winnings.

Linda Coble, Hawaii's pioneering first female TV newscaster, lost nearly $60,000 to an elaborate sweepstakes scam in which a caller claiming to be from U.S. Customs convinced her she'd won $5.5 million from Publishers Clearing House and needed to pay taxes and fees upfront. Hawaii residents lost nearly $80 million to fraud last year—a 25% increase—and Coble is publicly sharing her story to warn other seniors, emphasizing that scammers build trust through consistency, daily contact, and involving multiple accomplices posing as government officials. To protect yourself, never send money for "taxes" or "fees" on prizes you've won, verify claims directly with official organizations using independently confirmed phone numbers, and be skeptical of unsolicited calls—legitimate contests don't require upfront payments.

A Hawaiian Airlines customer was charged an additional $180 after someone claiming to be an airline agent told her that her confirmed flight was actually on standby status, which appears to have been a scam. The customer made the payment but later received a fraud notification that the charge was canceled, and Hawaiian Airlines had no record of the call or payment, suggesting she may have contacted scammers posing as the airline. To protect yourself, always verify airline contact information directly from the official website rather than using phone numbers from emails or search results, and be wary of unexpected additional charges on already-confirmed bookings.